No table game in the casino is more intriguing than baccarat. The game is a mainstay of high-limit rooms up and down the Las Vegas Strip. It also happens to have a famous connection to James Bond (seriously). Baccarat is primarily a game of chance. Players choose whether to bet on the Player hand, Banker hand, or tie, while the dealer follows fixed rules that determine how the cards are dealt.

This article will help you understand how to play punto banco, a common casino variation of baccarat where the Player and Banker hands follow predetermined drawing rules.

Understanding the Basics of Baccarat

The objective of baccarat is simple: bet on which of 2 hands will end up closer to 9.

In baccarat, Player and Banker are the names of the 2 competing hands. They don't describe who controls the cards. You can bet on either hand.

The basic wager is straightforward: You bet on whether the Player hand or Banker hand will finish closer to 9. You may also bet that the hands will tie.

Baccarat is played with standard 52-card decks. The number of decks can vary by table, casino, and game variation. Hand values are determined by the cards in each hand. Number cards 2-9 are worth their face value. Aces are worth 1. Face cards and 10s are worth zero.

As the game goes on, you use simple addition to calculate the value of each hand. If cards in a hand total more than 10, you drop the tens’ place to calculate the value.

Examples:

• The cards in a hand are 5, 2, and an ace. So that hand is worth 8
• The cards are 5, 6, and 2, so the hand is worth 3 because the cards total 13

Gameplay and Betting Options

Bets are made at the beginning of each hand; a standard baccarat table has the 2 main wager spots (Player and Banker) and a spot for betting on a tie.

Winning bets on the Player hand pay 1:1. Winning Banker bets commonly pay 1:1 minus a 5% commission. Commission procedures and payouts may vary by table, casino, or game variation. Tie bets commonly pay 8:1, but the payout may vary by table, casino, or game variation. If the hands tie, Player and Banker bets typically push, meaning those wagers are returned.

Some baccarat tables also offer optional side bets based on specific card combinations or outcomes. The available side bets and their payouts vary by table and game variation, so check the posted paytable before wagering.

Once bets are made, the dealer gives 2 cards each to the Player and Banker hands. A two-card total of 8 or 9 is called a natural. If either hand has a natural, neither hand receives another card. The hand closer to 9 wins; equal totals result in a tie. Hands with all other totals follow different rules for the Player and the Banker. Neither the Player nor Banker hand receives more than 3 cards.

Player Hand Rules

• If the value of the Player hand is 6 or 7, the Player hand stands
• If neither hand has a natural and the value of the Player hand is 5 or less, the dealer deals a third card

Banker Hand Rules

The Banker hand follows predetermined drawing rules based on its initial total and, when the Player draws a third card, the value of that card. Players don’t decide whether the Banker draws or stands; the dealer applies these rules automatically.

If the Player stands on an initial total of 6 or 7, the Banker draws on a total of 5 or less and stands on 6 or 7.

If the Player draws a third card, the Banker follows these rules:

• With a total of 0, 1, or 2, the Banker draws
• With a total of 3, the Banker draws unless the Player’s third card is an 8
• With a total of 4, the Banker draws if the Player’s third card is 2 through 7
• With a total of 5, the Banker draws if the Player’s third card is 4 through 7
• With a total of 6, the Banker draws if the Player’s third card is 6 or 7
• With a total of 7, the Banker stands

Baccarat Strategy and Tips

Baccarat is primarily a game of chance, and no betting system can guarantee a win. You may see players tracking previous results at the table, but past outcomes don’t determine what will happen on the next hand.

In a standard 8-deck baccarat game with a 5% commission on winning Banker bets, the Banker wager has a house edge of approximately 1.06%, compared with approximately 1.24% for the Player wager. Among the 3 main wagers, a tie bet generally carries a substantially higher house edge. When a tie pays 8:1, the house edge is approximately 14.36%.

In a standard 8-deck game, a tie occurs in approximately 9.52% of hands. That doesn’t mean a tie will occur once every 10 hands or that previous results make a tie more likely on the next hand.

It’s always important to manage your bankroll responsibly. This means setting a budget, sticking to it, and knowing when to walk away, whether you’re winning or losing.

You're now ready to bring your own version of James Bond to the baccarat table on your next visit to a Las Vegas casino.